Russian tweeters ridicule Orthodox Church's condemnation of Conchita Wurst

From Eurovision's bearded lady to 'bearded men with dresses'

Conchita Wurst poses with the trophy after winning Eurovision (EPA)

The Russian Orthodox Church’s condemnation of Conchita Wurst’s Eurovision victory is being ridiculed on social media.

A prominent Russian blogger, Rustem Adagamov, tweeted a picture of priests wearing full ceremonial robes with the message: “The ROC categorically opposes bearded men in dresses!”

The quip, which has been retweeted hundreds of times, was sparked by the Church’s comments against Conchita.

The drag queen’s performance and its enthusiastic reception was a sign of the world’s moral decline and part the aggressive assertion of Western cultural norms, according to Vladimir Legoyda.

The chairman of the church’s information department told Interfax news agency: ““The process of the legalisation of that to which the Bible refers to as nothing less than an abomination is already long not news in the contemporary world.

“Unfortunately, the legal and cultural spheres are moving in a parallel direction, to which the results of this competition bear witness.”

Mr Legoyda said Eurovision’s result was “yet one more step in the rejection of the Christian identity of European culture”.

The backlash in Russia was not confined to the church and some men posted pictures of themselves shaving their beards in protest at Conchita’s victory.

Ms Wurst, who was branded a “pervert” by a Russian politician Vitaly Milonov before the final, was named the winner after only 34 of the 37 countries had revealed their scores.

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Taking to the stage to receive her trophy, she said: “This night is dedicated to everyone who believes in a future of peace and freedom. You know who you are – we are unity and we are unstoppable.”

Ms Wurst, whose real name is Tom Neuwirth, has been accused of creating a “hotbed of sodomy” at Eurovision by homophobic Russian protesters, while Mr Milonov, the politician who was instrumental in passing Russia’s anti-gay “propaganda” law, accused the singer of turning the competition into the “Sodom show”.

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How bearded drag 'pervert' became toast of Europe